Popovich, Spoelstra to coach NBA All-Stars

Miami Heat head coach Eric Spoelstra will coach the East All Stars in Houston. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh will have some familiar faces with them on the sidelines for the NBA All-Star Game at Toyota Center in two weeks: coach Erik Spoelstra and staff.

The Heat’s 100-85 win over Toronto on Sunday gave Miami the top spot in the Eastern Conference as of Feb. 3. That means Spoelstra and his staff will be in charge when the All-Stars suit up in Houston in two weeks.

“It’s awesome,” James told the Associated Press. “It’s a testament to our coaches’ preparedness. As players, we go out there and just try to execute their game plan. We’re happy for them.”

Spoelstra, the fifth-year coach who led the Heat to the NBA championship last June, called the All-Star nod “a heck of an honor.”

Similar sentiments

“We’re happy to go. We’re excited about it,” Spoelstra said. “You don’t spend any time thinking about it as it’s happening; you’re just trying to prepare your team and make sure you have the best record. Now that it happened, it’s cool. We’ll make the most of it. Our staff is thrilled about it. Our players gave us congratulations afterward. That’s about as rare a thing as you’ll ever get in this league.”

Gregg Popovich and his San Antonio staff will coach the West. The Spurs clinched the best record in the West earlier in the week.

“It will be just like it has been in the past: a heck of an opportunity to enjoy amazing talent,” Popovich said. “That’s not just a b.s. or trite statement. It’s true. When you’re around those guys, you look around the room, and you can’t believe you’re in the same room with them. It’s a huge honor just to be a part of it.”

James and Wade were voted into the starting lineup for the East, while Bosh was named a reserve.

With Boston guard Rajon Rondo set to miss out after tearing a knee ligament, Spoelstra was asked by reporters if he would consider putting Bosh into the starting lineup.

“I’ve only given this thought for the last nine minutes,” Spoelstra said. “But I will tell you this unequivocally: My loyalties are first and foremost always with the Miami Heat.”

Proud of Houston trip

Whether he starts or not, Bosh said he was happy to see Spoelstra and his staff earn the trip to Houston.

“They deserve it,” Bosh said. “They work hard, just like us. To be able to have that honor and that privilege, it’s a great thing.”